Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during his meeting with the Chinese ambassador in Colombo has expressed his willingness to push forward the pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields, a press release from the Chinese Embassy said Thursday.

Sri Lanka - China friendship is time-tested, and of great importance to Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Wickremasinghe has said when the Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao called upon the PM on Wednesday and exchanged views on bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Wickremasinghe expressed hope that more Chinese companies could come to invest and do their business in Sri Lanka, realizing mutual benefit, win-win result and common development.

During the meeting the Chinese Ambassador handed over a congratulation message from Chinese Primier Li Keqiang.

Ambassador Wu said China always attaches great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka, which is a traditional friendly neighbor of China.

He said China is willing to further enhance the bilateral ties and enhance collaboration between the two countries.

"China is willing to further enhance the communications and collaborations between the two countries on the basis of the existing consensus and cooperation agreements, so as to promote the bilateral ties developing forward continuously," Ambassador Wu said.

In his congratulatory message to Prime Minister Wickremasinghe, the Chinese Premier said China and Sri Lanka are traditional friendly neighbors and at present, China and Sri Lanka have maintained close exchanges at various levels and conducted fruitful cooperation in various areas, and the friendship between the two peoples has been deepening.

Li Keqiang noted that the two countries this year will mark 58 years of diplomatic relationship.

"The Chinese government attaches great importance to developing relations with Sri Lanka and stands ready to constantly advance bilateral strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincerity, mutual support and friendship from generation to generation on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment, so as to bring benefits to both peoples and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results," the Chinese Prime Minister wrote to his Sri Lankan counterpart.

Fears have been raised that the new Sri Lankan government will lean more towards India and the US and distance itself from China. However, Prime Minister Wickremasinghe has assured the Chinese Ambassador the bilateral relationship will continue with enhanced cooperation.